Today’s old ad comes from the same booklet that had yesterday’s ad for Routley’s Motel, published in 1954.
Smith’s Department Store on Ouellette Ave. was a long time local fixture. Founded in 1914 as the C.H. Smith Co., the downtown store was expanded in 1925.
The main store on Ouellette following the 1925 expansion. Photo from the collection of the Windsor Archives.
The Smith’s annex on Pitt St., built in 1928. Photo from the collection of the Windsor Archives.
The beginning of the end of the downtown store occured on October 23, 1974, when Smith’s opened a 90,000 sq. ft. department store in the Mall. On October 10, 1975, Marks & Spencer bought Smith’s, the Downtown store was closed on August 14, 1976.
I was just thinking about Smiths Department Store so I Googled it. My mom used to work in the pharmacy. My mom, dad and sister passed away several years ago so I don’t go back to the Windsor area but pictures like these bring back many fond memories. My sister and I sat on Santa’s lap there too! We shopped there before the days of credit cards. I remember that they had layaway as an option if you wanted to make payments on your purchase. Maybe if that service was returned, fewer people would be in debt. Thanks for this post.
I worked at Smith’s in the display department in the early 70’s, it was a joy as was my boss Eugene Harvey.
Jeffrey Beuglet
my aunt….Gracemae Fortune worked at Smith’s as a personal shopper….I sat on many Santa,s laps there